Miniature rose plant `Fat &#39;N Sassy`

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Fat &#39;N Sassy`, which is characterized by its pale yellow to near white blooms with a blush of red, ranging from near Crimson to near Tyrian Rose, that covers all sun-exposed surfaces. The hybrid tea form miniature rose is larger than the average miniature in bloom size and usually borne one to a stem or on occasion in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The bush is vigorous, upright, bushy and produces moderate to heavy quantities of bloom.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety or a hardy,dwarf, bush plant to the miniature class; the variety being primarilycharacterized as a red blend.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms of hybrid tea-type form, borne usually one to a stembut on occasion in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held veryerect and well above the foilage.

It has a slight fragrance.

The plant ranges in height from 24 to 36 inches (approximately 60 to 90cm). The canes are sturdy and erect with moderate branching and mediumto heavy foilage covering. The plant is a moderate to heavy bloomer thatdoes well either in the greenhouse or outdoors.

The plant has good growth habits, well-shaped and attractive, bearingnumerous leaflets of average to slightly large size for a miniaturerose.

The seed parent was Carrousel (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,066), and thepollen parent was Sheri Anne (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,826). It differsfrom its seed parent in the following ways. It is a miniature of the redblend class, and Carrousel is a grandiflora of the medium red class. Itdiffers from its pollen parent in the following ways. It is larger thanaverage bloom for a miniature (40 to 60 mm in diameter) of the red blendclass, and Sheri Anne is an average size miniature (30 to 40 mm indiameter) of the orange-red class.

The descriptive matter which follows, pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of Marchthrough August 1986. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista,Calif., and are believed to be accurate standards for this cultivar insimilar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

The color photograph illustrates the variety.

Referring now specially to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Fat 'N Sassy`, the following is a detailed descriptionthereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being byreference to the British Colour Council Horticultural Colour Chart,except where common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, greenhouse or outdoor, exhibition quality orgarden decorative potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Fat 'N Sassy.

Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to5 or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Moderate to heavy both outdoors or greenhouse grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Average length (35 to 45 mm); average diameter and sturdy;ranging from near Scheeles Green (860/3 to 860/1 page 860) to nearLettuce Green (861/3 to 861/1 page 861) with occasional tinting ofbronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and numerous with a reddish color; located overthe entire surface of the peduncle and sepals, but not present on thecalyx tube.

Calyx.--Same color as the peduncle and without hairs.

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Slightly larger than average for a miniaturevariety (40 to 60 mm).

Petalage.--Double -- Averaging about 25 to 30 petals, arrangedregularly, plus petaloids (10 to 20 or more).

Form.--Urnshaped to ovoid as the bloom progresses. The petals remain atfirst somewhat tightly cupped with the tips and/or margins reflexedoutward, becoming at maturity more loosely cupped.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and undersurfaces of all petals have a matte finish.

Shape.--Outer petal and intermediate petals are of a broad obovate form.The inner petals are a broad lanceolate form; and the petaloids are alsolanceolate form with some occasional irregularities.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March throughAugust 1986), Chula Vista, Calif.

All petals.--Upper surface -- Ranging from near Mimosa Yellow (602/3 to602/2 page 602) to near white as the bloom opens with a blush on theouter margin, ranging from near Crimson (22/2 to 22 page 22) to nearTyrian Rose (24/2 to 24 page 24), which spreads across the petals to allsun-exposed surfaces of the blooms. Under Surface -- Ranging from nearMimosa Yellow (602/3 to 602/2 page 602) to near white as the bloom openswith a blush on the outer margin, ranging from near Crimson (22/2 to22/1 page 22) to near Carmine Rose (621/1 to 621 page 621).

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers -- Pale yellow to near whitewith a deep rose to red blush on the outer margin of all petals. Threedays open -- No yellow tones present; all sun-exposed surfaces are deeprose to red with near white on the unexposed areas of the upper surfaceand the base of all under surfaces.

Flower longevity.--(March through August 1986) Plant in pot 4 to 7 daysfrom bud with sepals reflexed to fully opened bloom. Holding at fullyopened with increased deepening of the red tones over all sun-exposedsurfaces for 5 to 7 days or longer. Cut blooms at living roomtemperature 6 to 8 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal tothe pistil; pale yellow in color with golden yellow anthers.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Long, abundant and spreading; pale yellow at the base toreddish at the top with pale yellow caps on the styles.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seed.--3 to 5 in each hip.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; open as the bloom opens, but does notrecurve against the peduncle.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Five to seven leaflets on the average; average to slightlylarger than average for a miniature rose plant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margin.--Very serrated with occasional tinting of bronze, especiallynoticeable on the newer foliage.

Color.--Near Spinach Green (0960/2 to 0960 page 0960) with occasionalbronzing of the margins, especially noticeable on the newer foliage. Theupper surfaces have a semi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have amatte finish of a slightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairsover the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but doescontain 3 to 5 small thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from small to medium; average width;tapering auricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, bushy; average to tall height for a miniature rose plant.

Growth.--Upright and vigorous.

Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect.

Main Stems.--Same color as the foliage.

Thorns.--Averaging 12 to 15 per 10 cm on the main stems and fewer on thebranches. Reddish in color with occasional tinting of bronze. Small toaverage in size. Slender and hooked slightly downward.

Branches.--Same color as the foliage.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Chula Vista, Calif.

I have found this variety to be easily asexually reproduced fromcuttings.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Fat 'N Sassy` of hardy, dwarf, vigorous growth,well-branched and attractive appearance, substantially as illustratedand described, characterized by its blooms of pale yellow to near whitewith a blush of red, ranging from near Crimson to near Tyrian Rose, thatcovers all sun-exposed surfaces.